BGCSE History Theme II:
European Settlement and
Rivalry
Topics:
•The Bahamas Under Sir Robert Heath 1629
•The Proprietary Period 1670 – 1718
•Piracy
•Crown Colony Government
THE BAHAMAS UNDER SIR
ROBERT HEATH 1629
In the early 1600’s Bermuda became colonized
by the English as the small island had become
resting place between England and the Virginia.
 Virginia had become a settling place for English
persons who chose to express their religion
outside of the Anglican faith.
 Most of whom became Puritans.
 Tension had always existed between the Anglican
and non-Anglicans on Bermuda, but the civil war
between King Charles I and the English
Parliament increased the Non-Anglicans need for
a place where the could exercise their own
religion freely.
The Eleutheran Adventurers
Objective: Describe the reasons for the
migration of the Eleutheran Adventurers to
the Bahamas
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William Sayle, who had been the governor of
Bermuda at the time, put into his consideration
to move to the Bahamas.
The islands of the Bahamas had become familiar
to Bermudans as they had travelled south too
the islands in search of salt, pigs and goats the
Spanish may have left behind.
Also they often found beach whales which for
them provided oil and ambergris.
After the two ships that had been sent to survey
the islands came back with good reports, Sayle
headed to England to ask permission from King
Charles I and Sir Robert Heath, the proprietor of
the islands , for permission to occupy the islands.
Permission was granted and the first constitution
ratified the Bahamas as a republic on July 9th
1647.
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Upon William Sayle’s return to Bermuda, he gathered the
other 70+ Independents including some negroes with their
provisions, tools and seeds had headed for the Bahamas in
his ship, William, as well as a small sloop, not built for long
journeys.
Aboard the ship problems brewed as a young man known
as Captain Butler argued that the entire bases of the island
was for persons to practice religion as they saw fit.
The initial landing was on an area known as “Cigateo”,
which was renamed Eleutheria [estimated to be current
“Governor’s Harbour”].
The rift in opinions became so serious that Sayle, along
with the small group that sided with him headed for
Another parts of the island.
The Settlement of the Adventurers
Objective: Discuss the initial settlement of the
Adventurers and problems that they faced
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In route they became shipwrecked at what is known
today as Spanish Wells and lost everything except the
little sloop.
Surviving only on fish using what simple tools could
be made, Sayle was forced to send eight of the men
to seek help from Virginia.
After Nine days the men arrived at the colony in
Virginia and were given provisions in addition to more
tools and seeds for small scale farming.
Many persons from Virginia wanted to join the group
of Adventurers but were prevented by the Governor
John Winthrop who was not convinced that the island
or its religion were well established.
The Adventurers were able to establish the colony
was repaid the Virginians by sending braziletto wood,
which was sold and profits were used to build
Harvard College.
Listen to the following letter, and answer
the questions that follow.
1.
How did the Adventurers who at visited Virginia inform
the others of their return?
2.
Describe the Adventurers that were left behind upon the
return of the men.
3.
What was the means of survival of the Adventurers that
were left behind?
4.
Where were the goods obtained from Virginia stored?
5.
Give the names of two other persons that settled with
William Sayle.
Classwork
Instructions:
Write down the questions above.
Listen to the letter (it will be read twice).
Jot down some notes then answer the following questions.
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The tradition of subsistence farming remained in
Eleutheria, but was not sustained for very long.
Bermuda had begun using The islands as a place of
exile for prisoners, defiant slaves or freed Negros.
Many persons left for Bermuda while others veered
toward the island of Sayle’s Islands,, later named
Providence and then New Providence to distinguish it
form the others with the same name.
Many of the adventures restored to searching the
shores for what washed up on the ashore after
Spanish galleones were wrecked en route to Spain
from Cuba.
This in addition, the search of ambergris and pearls
served them far more profitable.
Proprietary Government
Objective: Discuss the reasons for the transition of
the Eleutheran Adventurers from Eleutheria.
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William Sayles himself returned to Bermuda in 1657 and
later became governor of South Carolina where he died.
In addition to the gold discovered on the shores, the
wreckers were able to obtain barrels of meat, wine
ropes and other goods.
These goods were often exchanged in Nassau for
clothing, tools or rum.
In 1670, an inhabitant of New Providence, John Darrell,
wrote to some of the prominent men in England, asking
for them to request proprietorship of the islands.
In November of the same year, King Charles II granted
the Patent roll to;
◦ The Duke of Albermarle
◦ Lord Ashley who later became the Earle of Shaftsbury
◦ The Earle of Craven
◦ Lord Berkley
◦ Sir George Carteret and
◦ Peter Colleton
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Lord Ashley was the only proprietor with the real
financial means to aid the islands but he was
sent into exile after falling out with the king.
The governors at no point were interest in
residing in the islands and thus appointed
governors to run the islands.
They were as follows:
1. Hugh Wentworth: He died before arriving to the
islands.
2. John Wentworth: The Brother of Hugh Wentworth who
already resided in the Bahamas. Had a greater interest
in wrecking and was replaced.
3. Charles Chillingworth: He made a genuine effort to
carryout the instructions of the Proprietors, but fell
out of good graces with the locals. He was captured
and shipped to Jamaica.
4. Robert Clarke: He succeeded Chillingworth and allowed
the locals to do as they pleased to the extent of
providing letters of marquee granting permission to
attack Spanish ships.
5. Robert Lilburne: he replaced Robert Clarke and
suffered the repercussions of Clarke’s poor
decision making. Three attacks occurred under
his command. The first was in 1683. The
second in 1684 which resulted in the
destruction of Charles Town and the tortuous
death of Robert Clarke. During the third attack
much of the rest of New Providence was
destroyed and residents taken as prisoners.
6. Thomas Bridges sailed to the island from
Jamaica to be placed as governor. Although
there was initial confusion about his
appointment he was confirmed and restored
commerce to New Providence through salt,
wrecking and ambergris.
7. Cadwallader Jones: He was appointed by the
Proprietors to replace Bridges but made
acquaintance with the pirates and was
disgraced as a governor as he was jailed.
8. Nicolas Trott: Until the establishment of the Royal
governor , governor Trott had been the most
successful. He had built a fort and established a town
of 160 houses. Both of which he named Nassau after
the Prince of Orange Nassau, Prince William the III.
 In 1695, a House of Assembly was established and
laws were passed.
 Pirates who had befriended governor Bridges were
brought to trial and subsequently executed.
 The fate of governor Trott was not as successful as
his tenure as governor.
 A Dutch ship, Jufrow Gertrud, became wrecked in the
Bahamas aside from it provision and crew of 75 it
carried about 74,000 pieces of eight.
 The crew from the ship had been put under the watch
of the small group of trustworthy men that Trott could
find.
 Trott claimed that he shared the salvage from the
wreck with the men, he had actually kept most for
himself.
1.
2.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
How did Bermuda become a British colony?[2]
Which group of people settled at Virginia and what
was their celebrated religion? [2]
How was the Bahamas discovered by Bermudans?
What two person granted Sayle permission to
relocate to the Bahamas? [2]
What were two challenges faced by Sayle while
attempted to settle in the Bahamas? [2]
What measures were taken to bring resolve to both
problems? [2]
Name the six Lord Proprietors to whom the
Bahamas was granted. [6]
List three Governors and their fate. [6]
What was the Jufrow Gertrud, and what matter
arose out of its existence.[3]
Pop Quiz
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Governor Trott had been replaced by
governor Webb in 1697.
The amicable relationship between he and
Trott and the pirates made getting rid of
them very difficult.
He spent money of defense and was criticized
by the proprietors for doing so.
He unofficially resigned his post and left the
island for Pennsylvania in 1699, absconding
with more than 8,000 pounds.
The interim governor made history as Read
Elding was indeed a mulatto and was known
as a violent man.
Piracy in the Bahamas
Objective: To describe the impact of Piracy in the
Bahamas
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Governor Haskett had been the last of the
Governor sent by the Proprietors.
His term was short lived as he fell out of
graces with the Speaker of the House, who
was an open Pirate.
He was arrested and his property seized;
then shipped off to New York.
Amongst themselves the inhabitants had
selected a President while complaining to the
British government about the Governors and
Proprietors that had been sent.
The islands were left vulnerable as there was
neither financial support or defense from
England.
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This became more obvious during a series of
attacks on Nassau.
In 1703, A combined French and Spanish attack
was led.
Fort Nassau was captured without opposition, the
island was pillaged of slaves and goods
amounting to about 32,000 pounds.
Nassau, which was not much more than a small
town, with a fort and a church, was not much to
commandeer.
The fort was ill built and provided protection
from the land but was not suffice from the water.
New Providence was held captive for two weeks
and the president, Ellis Lightwood, was taken
away as a prisoner.
When the Spanish arrived again in 1704, there
had been only 20 person on the island.
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The previous attack had driven many of the
inhabitants to Cat Island and Exuma for the
first time.
A governor was sent to the Bahamas, but
upon arrival decided not to stay, this closed
the contact between England and the
Bahamas was suspended for 14 years.
After 1706, the Spanish seriously considered
taking over the islands, had this been done it
would have seriously impacted the course of
history.
Passing British ships would have been
attacked thus ruining the chances for the
establishment of the Colony in America.
The pirates hindered the establishment of the
Spanish and were quite content in the quaint
settlement as they were mostly at sea.
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Mary Read
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Tenaj
Karina
Kevin
Brittany
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Anne Bonney
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Edward Teach
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Dorian
Ashlyn
Kurt
Addison
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Ashton
Erin
Eraise
Antja
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Captain John Rackham
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Stede Bonnet
◦ Gary
◦ Frerishia
◦ Tevin
◦ Melidsha
◦ Cherish
◦ Peterie
Group presentations
Pirates of the Bahamas
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10.
What was the reason for the Government to encourage
privateering?
What is the purpose of a “letter of marque”?
What was the representation of Privateer vessels
compared to merchant ships during this period?
What two circumstances automatically converted a
privateer into a pirate?
What was the fate of Governor Birch?
During what years, was Nassau a “privateers republic’?
How was Nassau well equipped to accommodate
Privateering?
What was the Peace of Utrecht, and when was signed?
Who was Captain Henry Jennings and what was is role in
piracy?
Describe the lifestyle of the average Pirate.
Privateers and Pirates
Objective questions
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No ships within proximity of the Bahamas was
safe from the pirates’ republic.
Reports from the governors and merchants of
the in West Indies and America had gotten back
to England about the terror that the Pirates
inflicted on their neighbours.
The Lord proprietors maintained ownerships over
the islands, despite the poor job of managing it,
and had to be persuaded to give up this right.
However, they still held ownership until they
were bought out from the crown in 1787.
Woodes Rogers then became the first Royal
governor to the Bahamas entering the island in
this capacity for the first time on July 26, 1718.
Woodes Rogers
Objective: To describe the establishment of Crown Colony
government in the Bahamas and restoration of commerce to
the islands.
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Rogers, who was already a famous sailor and
privateer, arrived at the island of New providence
on the Delicia, and two navel escort ships,
H.M.S. Milford and H.M.S. Rose with a crew of
foot soldiers for New Providence.
Under the direction of the Crown, he granted
pardon to any of the Pirates that parted ways
with this habit.
In order to aid his governmental position Rogers
appointed a council of six local men.
The poor state of Nassau did not fair newcomers
well, as many of them died within days of arrival.
The third of Rogers's tasks was to rebuild a fort,
a process that would have been delayed, but was
expedited due to the threat of a Spanish attack.
New once again got to Rogers that a pirate
known as Vane had planned an attacked on
Abaco.
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Short on resources, Rogers sent the ex-pirate
Hornigold to captured vane, and although
unsuccessful he was able to capture a sloop
that had been trading with the Pirates.
The circumstances were against him and he
was forced to sent 10 ex-pirates for
provisions.
Unfortunately the group returned to old
ways, and at a point of shipwreck were
captured and retuned to new Providence.
They were tried and nine of whom were
hanged.
The task of cleaning the island and making it
into an inhabitable place.
Land was given to any persons who would
make the effort to clear it and build a home.
It was once again rumored that Spanish were
going to lead an attack on the island.
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Fortunately the attack was delayed as many of
the pirates, who had become bored from the
island life, had moved away leaving Rogers both
unprepared and without man power.
The interested of the ex-pirates was once again
obtained when the war between England and
Spain broke out and the pirates were given latter
of marque to attack Spanish ships.
When 12 Spanish boats had been spotted in the
waters near the Bahamas in 1720, the island was
prepared with group of ore than 540 men and
their sixty guns prepared to defend the town.
The threat of pirate attacks further hindered
commerce as progress as the preparation meant
that no salt was raked and not braziletto wood
was cut.
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Nassau had been a lost cause for commerce and
persons in Eleuthera were still trying to cultivate small
farms.
Rogers spent much, if not all of his money trying to
establish trade, and was not successful.
His investors were not happy as there were no returns
and Rogers broke and sick returned to England in 1721.
George Phenney succeeded Rogers and picked up the
task of establishing and increasing trade on the island.
During this time, the number of houses on the island
exploded and new roads had to be formed; one of which
was bay Street.
Wealthy persons in town began to settle down, one in
particular was Governor Fitzwilliam who bought ten
acres and built a house [Government House today.]
Nassau Under Governor Phenney
Objective: To describe the second Governor of the
Bahamas with his success and failures.
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Fort Nassau was under constant repair and persons in
new Providence did not desire to settle down; not to
build roads or homes for themselves nor mind the forts.
Governor Phenney with the support of Governor Rogers
lobbied for the King to granted permission to have an
assembly in the colony in order to pass and laws and
generated money in order to assure progress.
While Governor Phenney had been trying to help the
colony, his wife was doing the complete opposite
causing both of them to grow out of favor with the
locals.
She had made attempts to seek profit from gaining a
monopoly of several trade items and the governor was
recalled.
In the same year, the King granted permission to
establish an assembly of the island.
Despite his prison time for not paying his taxes, Woodes
Rogers was returned at the Governor of the colony in
1729 the same year the Assembly was established.
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The Assembly was by no means perfect.
Often when maters of urgency were brought up,
especially those pertaining to money, the laws were
never passed.
The law to grant the governor a salary was even
rejected it the first time around.
N.B. What controversy did Rogers have with another
individual in house. Who was this person.?
The stress of the assembly took a greater toll on
Rogers than the pirates did.
He became very sick and dies in 1732.
Governor Fitzwilliam succeed him
His time was short lived, four years, and his first
challenge was slave rebellion he met short after his
arrival.
Fitzwilliam was known for his stern hand, and even
the garrison at Fort Nassau rebelled against him and
commandeered the fort.
They group was captured, tried as pirates and
eventually hanged.
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The war between England and Spain, which began in
1739, revealed that the island had little chance of
sustaining an enemy attacked due to minimal
defences.
A survey of the island’s defenses was carried out in
1741 by Engineer Peter Henry Bruce.
He found that the island no defences to the east.
He built Fort Montague which was completed in 1742.
The combination of the new line of defence and the
opportunity for privateering made the war a
welcomed venture.
The islands, which had a population of more than
three thousand between Nassau, Eleuthera and
Harbour Island, gained a degree of wealth during this
time despite the reprisals from the Spanish and
French.
Between 1758 – 1774, brother William and Thomas
Shirley were Royal governors of the Bahamas;
William between 1958 – 1968 and Thomas the
remainder of the time.
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William Shirley was very successful at
keeping control during the seven years war
as he had proven himself a solider and sailor
before taking on this role.
This was important because the privateers
were becoming very careless.
Thomas Shirley took Turks and Caicos under
the Bahamas, after the French attacked in
1764.
He made the same attempts as his brother to
maintain peace on the islands, as this was
very difficult due to the amount of illegal
activity on the little islands.
The Assembly members voted against his
forcing Shirley to leave in 1774 with the
state of peace that reigned.